The female infected lay half-obscured by the broken structure, her body suspended within what remained of the wall she had been forced into.

Fragments of concrete and steel framed her unevenly, sections still falling away as her hair remained embedded across the stairwell and beyond.

Some strands trembled.

Pulling.

Trying to retract.

Those lodged in weaker points came loose first, sliding back with sharp, dragging sounds—

SKRRR—~

Others—

Didn’t move.

Not yet.

Her expression didn’t change.

Still blank.

Still empty.

But the movement was there.

Persistent.

Don’s jaw tightened.

His fingers loosened.

And then—

He let go.

The child dropped.

No hesitation.

No second glance.

The small body fell from his arms, slipping downward through the dust-filled air—

He didn’t watch it.

Didn’t track it.

Didn’t correct it.

Because in that moment—

It didn’t matter.

The weight was gone.

More than one kind.

His hands lifted.

Not toward her—

Toward the structure.

Close.

Precise.

Then—

BOOM—!!

A force detonated outward from his fists.

Not a single point—

Two.

Twin bursts of cavitation impact slammed into the already-damaged wall structure around the infected, the pressure erupting through the weakened frame and tearing it apart from within.

Concrete shattered outward in chunks, steel supports bending and snapping as the force expanded through the space—

CRRRAASH—!!

At the same moment—

He released the hold on her hair.

Every strand he had been restraining snapped free.

The explosion carried through them instantly.

The force caught her full-on.

Her body slammed backward into the deeper sections of the wall structure, beams cracking under the impact as she was driven further into the building’s frame.

Her hair followed in chaotic motion, strands whipping wildly as they were dragged with her, ripping through anything still holding them in place—

KRRRSH—!

Debris filled the space again, dust bursting outward in another heavy wave.

Don didn’t wait.

Didn’t watch the result.

He turned.

Fast.

"Fly ahead and keep going!"

His voice cut clean through the noise.

Urgent and final.

Charles flinched slightly at the tone, his grip on the woman tightening as he looked at Don for a fraction of a second longer. There were questions there—

Too many.

But none of them mattered right now.

Not here.

Not with this.

His jaw set.

Tight.

He moved.

WOOSH—~

He jumped into the air, wings spreading just enough to catch lift before snapping inward slightly as he pushed forward through the stairwell opening.

His body angled upward immediately, maintaining control despite the strain, the woman still held securely against him as he flew past Don and continued toward the upper levels.

Behind him—

Don stayed still.

For just a second.

Watching.

Through the settling debris, through the fractured structure, he caught sight of her again.

The infected.

Her movement slowed—

Then stopped.

Her hair anchored into nearby surfaces, stabilizing her position as she pulled herself free from the collapsed section.

Concrete crumbled away from her as she regained balance mid-air, her body straightening as her head turned—

Toward him.

Her eyes—

Still blank.

Still empty.

But focused.

Don’s brows pulled in slightly.

His breathing steadied.

There was anger there.

Clear.

But controlled.

It didn’t push him forward.

Didn’t make him reckless.

He didn’t attack again.

Didn’t chase it.

He turned.

And moved.

Fast.

His body surged forward into motion, boots striking against the damaged steps as he pushed upward after Charles.

Dust still lingered in the air, debris shifting underfoot as he climbed, his senses stretched outward—listening, tracking, ready.

Because he already knew—

This wasn’t over.

And if she came again—

He’d be ready this time.

———

About a minute later...

The climb didn’t slow.

It dragged on.

Each step landed heavy against polished stone, the stairwell spiraling upward with the same refined finish as the rest of the tower—dark railings, smooth walls, recessed lighting casting a cool, even glow that felt out of place against the noise bleeding in from below.

Distant gunfire echoed faintly through the structure—

THUD—THUD—~

Somewhere deeper, something collapsed—

KRRRSH—~

But nothing close.

Nothing immediate.

Don kept his ears open anyway.

Every step.

Every breath.

Every shift in the air—

Measured.

Tracked.

Nothing.

No scraping.

No piercing.

No sign of her.

Only chaos at a distance.

In his ear—

Elle didn’t stop.

"They’re slowing you down, Don. You know that."

No answer.

"You don’t need them. You need to move faster—get out while you still can."

Still nothing.

Don just kept running.

Ahead.

Up.

Charles matched the pace behind him, wings partially tucked, movements controlled despite the strain still visible in his posture.

His breathing was heavier now, not from lack of endurance—but from the accumulation of hits, the wing, the leg, everything stacking against him.

And the woman—

She broke.

Somewhere along the climb.

At first, it was uneven breaths.

Then—

Realization.

Her eyes lifted slightly, searching.

Not seeing.

Then searching again.

Faster.

More frantic.

"...my baby...?"

Her voice cracked.

She twisted in Charles’s hold, trying to look past him, past the stairs behind them, back down into everything they had just left.

"My baby—where is he?!"

Her voice rose.

Sharpened.

"What happened?! Where is he?!"

She struggled harder now, pushing against Charles’s grip, hands clawing at his shoulder, trying to break free.

"I want to see him! Where is he?!"

Charles didn’t respond.

Didn’t loosen his hold.

His jaw tightened slightly as he kept moving, ignoring the way she shook in his arms.

They climbed.

Another turn.

Another flight.

Then—

The final landing.

The stairwell opened into a wider platform, the walls shifting to reinforced paneling with a darker finish. At the far end stood the roof access door—large, sealed, with a built-in scanner embedded into the frame.

A faint blue line ran across it, pulsing softly as it awaited input.

Charles slowed.

Just enough.

He stepped forward, the scanner activating instantly—

ZNN—~

A thin beam swept over him, moving from head to toe in a smooth pass. It paused for half a second—

Then flashed green.

A soft click followed.

He shifted slightly to the side.

Don stepped forward next.

The scanner repeated the process—

ZNN—~

Another pause.

Another green flash.

The locks disengaged.

CHK—~

Charles reached for the door.

Started to push—

"Wait."

Don’s voice cut in.

Low.

Immediate.

Charles froze.

His hand still on the door.

At the same time—

Movement.

From the side.

A security officer stepped into view, rifle already raised, posture tight as he came around the corner with clear intent—

Charles reacted instantly.

One wing snapped outward—

FRRSH—~

Positioned to strike or block.

Don’s stance shifted as well, weight dropping slightly, ready to move forward in a burst if needed.

Then—

Comms.

"Hold on, Watcher Four—it’s one of ours."